Aviation’s Birthplace Prevails 

The Vertical Flight Society has announced the winners of its second annual Design-Build-Vertical Flight (DBVF) Student Competition. The annual event seeks to encourage student interest in unmanned aircraft technology and small air-vehicle design and fabrication, thereby helping to prepare the next generation of aerospace designers and engineers to expand the boundaries of unmanned flight. 

The event tasks university teams with designing, manufacturing, and flight testing electric VTOL aircraft weighing no more than 15 lbs. (6.8 kilos) and capable of carrying a payload of at least 2 lbs. (0.9 kilos), with sufficient endurance to complete the competition requirements. In addition, the aircraft must be capable of flying both manually (via remote interface) and autonomously.

Nine universities from across North America participated in the year-long endeavor, and a total of $5,000 was awarded. 

The final flight competition was held 01–02 June at the US Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory near Aberdeen, Maryland. The three schools that made it to the deciding fly-off were Ohio State, the University of Maryland, and Penn State. The finalists contended with a 100°F heat index, high humidity, and gusting winds. 

When the batteries ebbed and the dust settled, Ohio State took first place in the competition. The University of Maryland turned in a fine second-place showing, and Penn State expertly rounded out the top-three. Aero News salutes the victors, and acknowledges the efforts of all those who took part in the competition. 

The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is the U.S. Army’s sole fundamental research laboratory focused on cutting-edge scientific discovery, technological innovation, and transition of knowledge that stands to improve the Army’s chances of surviving and winning future conflicts. ARL has signed a five-year agreement with VFS to host the DBVF event and collaborate on vertical flight education outreach initiatives. The competition was also sponsored by Belcamp, MD-based SURVICE Engineering, and  Mountain View, CA-based Wisk Aero.

FMI: https://vtol.org